Sciatica warning signs you should not ignore, and how to manage them at home

The sedentary lifestyle of today affects both body and mind. Sitting in one place for hours, staring at a mobile phone and laptop, and growing work stress can aggravate the symptoms of sciatica.

Often a sharp pain shoots up suddenly from the lower back and is felt travelling down through the hip to the back of the leg. This pain is called sciatica. It can sometimes become extremely distressing. Sciatica brings several changes in the body, so the symptoms that appear should not be ignored at all, and treatment should be sought in time.

First, it helps to understand what sciatica is. The sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in the body. It starts at the spine and runs through the hip and the back of the thigh down to the toes. When pressure falls on the spine or elsewhere along it, burning or pain begins to increase.

The problem is especially caused by a slipped disc in the spine. If the muscles around the spine wear down or stiffen, they press on the nerve. As a result, one leg comes under more strain after sciatica sets in. If it is not attended to in time, a person may end up confined to bed.

These symptoms appear in sciatica: mild or sharp pain in the leg, a pins-and-needles sensation in the calf or sole, numbness in some part of the leg, weakness while lifting the leg or standing up, and sudden sharp pain. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to serious problems.

It is very important to treat sciatica in time. Even without surgery or intensive medical treatment, sciatica can be brought under control in a few weeks with care at home. Lying in bed all day makes the muscles stiffen and recovery takes much longer. It is therefore necessary to keep up light movement to maintain blood circulation.

For one to two days, an ice pack should be applied to ease severe pain and swelling. Icing helps loosen the stiff muscles of the lower back and improves blood circulation. In addition, add salt to the bath water and bathe in warm water.

This information is for general purposes only and does not claim to offer any treatment. Consult your doctor before trying any remedy.